No decision on UAAP withdrawal for now for Ateneo amid probe on Baterbonia-Adili deaths

Ateneo de Manila University said the school has yet to decide whether it will withdraw from the upcoming UAAP Season 89 following the tragic deaths of student-athletes Rene Baterbonia and Divine Adili.

READ MORE | Ateneo recruit Rene Baterbonia, foreign student athlete Divine Adili die in drowning incident

President Fr. Bobby Yap on Monday said the University continues to study all its options regarding a possible pullout in the next season.

This inquiry came following Ateneo’s decision to pull the plug on its participation in the FilOil EcoOil Preseason Cup, where the Blue Eagles made their return after missing the 2025 edition.

Ateneo stressed it will decide upon the findings of UAAP.

“‘Yung sa UAAP, wala pang desisyon. Wala pang ano. Pinag-aaralan namin ‘yun,” Yap said. “Pero wala pa talagang desisyon o ano kung anong gagawin. ‘Yung sa UAAP namin, nagsabi ‘yung board, may statement ang UAAP, so susunod kami doon.”

(For the UAAP, there is no decision yet. We are still studying it. But there is not decision about what will be done. For the UAAP, the board said that the UAAP has a statement, so we will abide by that.)

Ateneo also shared that the men’s basketball team won’t be undergoing a revamp — for now.

This after head coach Tab Baldwin and team manager Epok Quimpo submitted their resignation in the aftermath of the incident.

READ MORE | Ateneo coach Tab Baldwin, team manager Epok Quimpo resign following deaths of Baterbonia, Adili

“Ang nag-resign lang ‘yung dalawa. In fact, ‘yung assistant coaches, ‘yung coaching staff, tinutulungan din namin,” Yap said.

(The only people who have resigned are the two. In fact, the assistant coaches, the coaching staff, we are also helping them.)

“They’re also in the grieving process. We are providing as much support for them as they grieve this tragedy and we will continue, there’s no revamp of any sort.”

“We will continue and we hope that after a few weeks, they can supervise the practices of the team.”

—JMB, GMA News